Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art announces exciting new leadership and organizational changes
Chadds Ford, PA, July 14, 2025 — The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art is thrilled to announce new leadership and organizational changes with the promotions of Stephanie Armpriester and Grant DeCosta, who formerly held the roles of Co-Directors of the Brandywine Conservancy. Effective immediately, Armpriester was promoted to the newly created role of Chief Impact Officer for the entire Brandywine organization, while DeCosta was elevated to become the singular Director of the Conservancy. As members of the Executive Leadership Team, both will report directly to the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art’s Executive Director & C.E.O., Virginia Logan.
“Grant and Stephanie began their joint leadership of the Conservancy in 2021 and were officially promoted to Co-Directors in 2022. In those roles, the two of them have been remarkably aligned and have shared the Conservancy leadership with intelligence, effectiveness and great insight,” said Logan. “It is a testament to their respective successes that they have both been promoted to equally important new roles, which will advance strategic goals and amplify the Brandywine’s dual mission of art and nature in new and exciting ways.”
As Chief Impact Officer, Armpriester will lead efforts to deepen Brandywine’s community impact, expand access, and generate sustainable income through innovative, mission-aligned experiences. This builds on her previous collaborative work on art and nature education offerings across the organization while as the Co-Director of the Conservancy—including launching a public environmental education program that has broadened visibility and engagement with the community, and most recently leading efforts to establish the Brandywine Native Garden Hub website, a new interactive guide for getting started with native plants. In her new role, she will now oversee all public engagement efforts across the entire organization, including the robust educational programming already offered by the Museum and Conservancy through their individual programs, as well as enhanced art and nature programming. In addition, Armpriester will oversee special events, rentals, and related earned revenue opportunities, as well as the Brandywine’s horticultural staff, developing new opportunities to immerse the public in the gardens, trails and meadows of the organization’s broader Chadds Ford campus. Combining these teams under one centralized department will allow for more strategic and collaborative work, as well as deeper engagement with the organization’s dual mission.
“This is a pivotal moment for Brandywine, as these organizational changes will take our engagement work to new heights,” said Armpriester, who has been with the Brandywine since 2017, serving in a variety of leadership roles during her tenure. “With a more welcoming campus in Chadds Ford, enhanced experiential and educational offerings, and the activation of our constituents in their own local communities, we seek to inspire the public to get involved in our unique dual mission, especially as we work on exciting new plans for our future.”
As the singular Director of the Brandywine Conservancy, DeCosta will now oversee all Conservancy program areas including conservation, stewardship, municipal assistance, and community services. During his tenure as Director of Community Services and Co-Director of the Conservancy, DeCosta advanced core projects—such as leading the Brandywine-Christina Watershed Partners through the Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI)—strengthened the organization’s Municipal Assistance Program, and developed a new Community Services department, which now leads land restoration projects to improve water and soil quality. He also worked with landowners, municipalities, regulators, and policy makers to provide a holistic approach to natural resource conservation and protection. Most recently, DeCosta led the Brandywine Flood Study project, a partnership with Chester County Water Resources Authority and the University of Delaware Water Resources Center, which identified an actionable suite of flood mitigation and risk reduction projects to better protect communities along the Brandywine Creek before, during, and after future flooding events. In his new role, DeCosta will continue to expand the Conservancy’s presence and efforts to protect and conserve the land, water, natural, historic and cultural resources of this region, while also providing strategic guidance and leadership for the organization to further its mission.
“For decades, the Brandywine Conservancy has been a beacon of leadership in land conservation, and I am deeply inspired to carry that legacy into the future,” said DeCosta. “As we face new and urgent environmental challenges, our mission holds enduring significance. With gratitude and determination, I embrace the opportunity to lead the Conservancy into its 58th year and beyond—working to amplify our impact, strengthen our bonds with landowners and communities, and protect the precious resources that define this region. By working hand in hand with Brandywine’s dedicated staff and leadership, landowners, and all who cherish this remarkable region, we can ensure that this organization’s legacy of conservation and stewardship lives on for generations to come.”
DeCosta began his career at the Conservancy in 2013 as an easement writer, and he has since served in a variety of leadership roles during his tenure. He has over 20 years of experience in conservation and environmental policy work in the non-profit, private and public sectors in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Washington, D.C. He holds a M.S. in geography from West Chester University and a B.S. in forestry and wildlife science from Virginia Tech. Armpriester has over 15 years of experience in the non-profit, private and public sectors in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and New Jersey. She holds a master’s degree in historic preservation planning from Cornell University and a B.A. in history from The College of New Jersey.
About the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art:
The Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art preserves and promotes the natural and cultural connections between the area’s beautiful landscape, historic sites and important artists. The Conservancy protects the lands and waters throughout the Brandywine Valley and other priority conservation areas, developing sustainable approaches to emerging needs and assuring preservation of majestic open spaces and protection of natural resources for generations to come. The Museum of Art presents and collects historic and contemporary works of American art, engaging and exciting visitors of all ages through an array of exhibitions and programs. The Brandywine unites the inspiring experiences of art and nature, enhancing the quality of life in its community and among its diverse audiences.
About the Brandywine Conservancy:
The Brandywine Conservancy protects water, conserves land, and engages communities. The Conservancy uses a multi-faceted approach to conservation. Staff work with private landowners who wish to see their lands protected forever and provide innovative community planning services to municipalities and other governmental agencies. The Conservancy currently holds more than 510 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of over 70,200 acres of land. The Conservancy is a program of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art, which preserves and promotes the natural and cultural connections between the area’s beautiful landscape, historic sites, and important artists. The Conservancy is one of the two programs of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
About the Brandywine Museum of Art:
The Brandywine Museum of Art features an outstanding collection of American art housed in a 19th-century Mill building with a dramatic steel and glass addition overlooking the banks of the Brandywine Creek. The Museum is located on Route 1 in Chadds Ford, PA. Current admission rates and hours of operation can be found at www.brandywine.org/hours. Guided tours of the Andrew Wyeth Studio, N. C. Wyeth House & Studio and the Kuerner Farm—all National Historic Landmarks—are available seasonally (for an additional fee); advance reservations are recommended. For more information, call 610.388.2700 or visit brandywine.org/museum. The Museum is one of the two programs of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
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